Page 4 - October 2017 Mag - November_SA-1

faith matters
The Spirit Builds Us
andr é & jenny roebert
I once read something Gloria Copeland wrote on the fruit
of the Spirit, and found it to be exactly what God’s Word
says about it. The fruit of the Spirit is so strong that once we self goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf
have it abounding and flowing out of us, all the demons in
hell can’t stop it. It has the power to correct every problem
in our lives. It will keep us steadfast when others around us
are falling down or caving under pressure. It will keep us
above water and rooted on our feet when systems fail and
the storms of life come. There is only one way we can make
it through to victory, again and again, and that is through
the character of God being developed and made strong
in us.
The last part of 2 Peter 1:4 says that we must become par-
takers of the divine nature. That means we must be actively
involved to see God’s nature and character abound in us.
Verse 8 & 9 tell us why, “For as these qualities are yours and
increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being
idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)...”
How do we build ourselves up in the Spirit? Romans 8:26
says, “So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us
up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer
nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Him-
with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for ut-
terance.”. Praying in the spirit, by the Holy Spirit causes your
spirit to rise up in the power of God and flow in and through
you. It strengthens you and gives you fresh hope and per-
spective. Jude 1:20 says that as we pray in the Spirit, we
build ourselves up, on our most holy faith. The Amplified
version says, “… [make progress, rise like an edifice higher
and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 8:28 declares that God Himself is our partner in life.
Everything we need to be supernaturally strengthened and
equipped to overcome is already inside of us. As we yield
to His Spirit inside of us, praying in the Spirit, we will build
ourselves up in His supernatural power, and as He reminds
us of His promises, we wield the sword of the Spirit (the Word
of God), and declare His truth over our lives. No matter how
hopeless your circumstances seems, these are the things
you can do! So build yourself up today!